To study the clinical effects and complications of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal hernia repair (TEP) and Lichtenstein hernia repair for inguinal hernias.

Retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 126 patients with inguinal hernias admitted to the General Surgery Department of the 967th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force of the PLA from June 1, 2018 to June 1, 2021. 74 patients received TEP operation, in the TEP Operation Group; 52 patients received Lichtenstein operation, in the Open Operation Group; The incidence of postoperative complications (scrotal edema, incision infection, urinary retention, temporary neurosensory disturbance), and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain in the inguinal area were compared between the two groups, to evaluate and analyze the advantages of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal hernia repair.

Compared with the open group, the operation time and hospital expenses of the TEP group were significantly higher (P<0.05); intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and postoperative complications (scrotal edema, incision infection, the incidence rates of urinary retention, temporary neurosensory abnormalities) in the TEP group were significantly lower; the VAS scores of the inguinal region in the TEP group were significantly lower at 24 hours, 1 month and 3 months after operation. There were all statistical significance (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the inguinal region VAS score between the two groups at 6 months after operation (P>0.05).

TEP has the characteristics of less trauma, less pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, and lower complication rate. The therapeutic effect of TEP is obviously better than the Lichtenstein procedure, but the operation time and hospital expenses of the TEP group were significantly higher. In clinical application, the appropriate operation method should be selected according to the patient's own situation and the surgical skills mastered by the surgeon.